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Stanford Settlement: Turning Compassion into Community
Celebrating 90 years of service, Stanford Settlement continues to be a vital part of the community it has served since 1936. River City Bank recently spoke with Julie Rhoten of Stanford Settlement about the organization’s beginnings, how it has grown over the years, and why it remains so important today. What started at the Leland Stanford Mansion has evolved into a trusted community resource, guided by a simple but powerful idea: helping individuals, families, and neighborhoods thrive through connection, support, and opportunity.
What sparked the idea of starting Stanford Settlement nearly 90 years ago
In 1936, the Sisters of Social Service took over the orphanage at the Leland Stanford Mansion in downtown Sacramento. While caring for the girls who lived there, the Sisters also recognized the needs of nearby families and founded Stanford Settlement to serve the broader community.
How has the mission changed over time and what has always stayed true?
Stanford Settlement’s mission has remained the same for 90 years: building healthy communities through services for individuals, family, and neighborhoods. While the needs of the community have evolved, the mission continues to guide every program, service, and decision.
What has changed over time is how that mission is carried out. Programs have adapted and expanded to meet new challenges. Over the decades, programs, facilities, and methods have changed, but Stanford Settlement’s commitment to helping individuals, families, and the community remains strong.
In what ways has Stanford Settlement made a meaningful difference for the individuals and families over the years?
Stanford Settlement helps people experience a sense of belonging, being part of something bigger than themselves while building healthy relationships with peers, caring adults, and their community. Across all programs, participants of all ages develop confidence, form meaningful connections, and feel valued for who they are grounded in the belief that every person has worth, dignity, and potential.
How have staff, volunteers, community partners, and board members contributed to Stanford Settlement’s success?
Stanford Settlement’s success over the past 90 years reflects the many people who believed in and supported its mission. Dedicated board members, staff, volunteers, donors, and community partners have each played an essential role in serving generations of children, families, and seniors. No account of Stanford Settlement’s success would be complete without acknowledging Sister Jeanne Felion, the last Sister of Social Service to lead Stanford Settlement. During her 43 years of leadership (nearly half of the agency’s lifespan), she helped shape the agency and established a strong foundation that continues to guide its future.
Looking back, what moments or milestones shaped Stanford Settlement into what it is today?
Several moments in Stanford Settlement’s history helped shape the organization into the community resource it is today. Key milestones include relocating from downtown Sacramento to the Gardenland neighborhood, incorporating as a nonprofit in 1976, and developing dedicated facilities for seniors and teens in the decades that followed.
Another important milestone came in 1976, when the organization moved to its present location, the former site of Gardenland Elementary School. The move also marked Stanford Settlement’s incorporation as a nonprofit organization, creating opportunities for future growth and sustainability.
As community needs evolved, so did the organization. By the 1990s, senior programs had outgrown their space. In response, Sister Jeanne and the Board of Trustees launched a capital campaign to build a new, dedicated Senior Center, expanding services and creating a welcoming gathering place for older adults.
Recognizing the need for dedicated Teen Center, Sister Jeanne and the Board launched another ambitious fundraising effort. Despite the challenges of the Great Recession and a 2009 building moratorium in the Natomas basin, they succeeded in constructing an 11,000-square-foot facility featuring a full-size indoor basketball court, computer lab, and game room. This safe space is essential for youth in the community.
Why is Stanford Settlement still so important today?
Stanford Settlement remains important today because its mission and approach meet changing community needs. Rooted in the settlement house movement and social work principles, the organization focuses on the strengths, potential, and dignity of every individual. Too often, people must prove how much they are struggling to receive assistance. At Stanford Settlement, anyone within the four surrounding zip codes can access agency services. Programs are delivered with hospitality, meeting people where they are, and building on their strengths.
The impact of Stanford Settlement can be seen across generations. Families who once participated in our youth programs now return as parents and grandparents. Over nine decades, the organization has witnessed individual lives transformed and neighborhoods grow stronger and more connected. This long-term presence allows the organization to build relationships and create change beyond any single program.
With continued community support, Stanford Settlement remains committed to providing essential social services, fostering opportunities for growth, and empowering residents to build an even stronger future for generations to come.
What would you like to say to everyone who has been part of this journey over the years?
Thank you. Thank you to the children, teens, seniors, and families who have allowed Stanford Settlement to be part of their lives. It has been an honor to know them, learn from them, walk alongside them, and see them grow through the years.
Thank you to the generations of board members, staff, volunteers, donors, partners, and supporters who have invested their time, talent, resources, and hearts in this mission. Their generosity and belief have changed lives. This 90-year milestone belongs to everyone.
Thank you for being part of Stanford Settlement’s story. We are grateful for the past, proud of what we’ve accomplished together, and excited for what lies ahead.
About Stanford Settlement
Stanford Settlement is a private, nonprofit social service agency serving residents of all ages. The agency’s service area includes Gardenland Northgate, North Sacramento, Del Paso Heights, and South Natomas. Agency services impact the overall health and well-being of those served. As a settlement house, the agency is concerned with helping those in the immediate neighborhoods and engaging them to make improvements to their own lives and to their community.
Stanford Settlement fulfills a unique role being the only settlement house in the Sacramento region. The long-term presence of the agency in the neighborhoods served makes it uniquely qualified to be a change agent for individuals, families, and the community at large. Stanford Settlement has been able to respond to the evolving needs of the community because it is part of the community’s fabric.
